Improved mold for taking impressions of feet



llrurn STATES ./-i'rnivr urine.

JEAN EUSTACHE AUGUSTIN RILLOT, OF SAN JOS, CALIFORNIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 15,17% dated November 22, 1864.

T0 @ZZ whom, it may 00u/cern:

Be it known that l, JEAN EUsTAcHn AU- GUSTIN Rumor, of Sau Jose, in the county et" Santa Clara and State of Calii'ornia, have invented a new and Improved Mold for Taking the Impression ot' Feet and Producing Lasts; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to malte and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

making a part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of my invention, taken in the plane indicated by the line a Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detached side elevation of one of the separatinggages. Fig. d. is a plan or top view of the toe-gage. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of the same, the line y y, Fig. 4.-, indicating the plane of section. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, the plane of section being indicated b v the line z z, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a iace view of the cutter or scraper used to separate the mold. Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section ot' the same, the line a" Fig. 7, indicating the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference in all the figures indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in the application of separating-gages-one to each otl the halves oi" the moldin such a manner that the impression taken from the foot can be readily separated in two halves in order to release the foot and also the last formed by casting therein lead or other suitable material.

lhe invention consists, also, in the application to the foot from which an impression is to be taken of? au adjustable toe-gage, whereby the proper length and breadth of the last is insured, and the impression taken from the foot and the last cast in this impression can be readily made larger or smaller, according to the convenience or desire ot the person for whom the last is to be made, or according to the variations of fashion.

rIhe invention consists, finally, in the employment or use of an extension, in combination with the separating-gages and with the mold, in such a manner that the impression taken from the foot can be continued above the ankle-joint to any desired height.

i i i A represents a mold made of two halves, which are united by hinges ct. This mold is made of wood or any other suitable material, and each of the two halves is provided with a separating-gage, B, applied by means of hooks and steady-pins, or in any other suitable manner, to the inner faces of the same, and in such a manner that they (the gages) can be readily removed and replaced by one of different size. These gages are made of sheet metal, and the openings in them are sufficientlyr large to allow of introducing the foot with ease and i'acility. The size ofthe holes in the separatinggages depends upon the size of the foot from which an impression is to be taken, and for one and the same mold separating-gages of four or more different sizes may be used- Cleats b, secured to the sides ofthe mold, serve to hold the foot in the middle, and fillers, C, may be inserted in the front part of the mold to reduce the quantity of plaster used for the impression of small feet.

In order to obtain a last of the requisite size, it is necessary to attach to the toes of the foot from which the impression is to be taken a toc-gage, D, detached views of which are represented iu Figs. 4, 5, and 6. It is made in two parts, which are connected by one 'or more transverse bars, c, so that the same can be eX- tended or contracted at pleasure. 'A series of washers, d, inserted between the two halves, allow of changing the width of this toe-gage, and its length is regulated by slides e, which move in and out in suitable guide-flanges,f, and by a set of curved plates, g, any number of which can be taken out or put in at pleasure. A button, h, fastened on the top of thev toe-gage, and adjustable thereon by means of different holes, serves to make room for thc large toe, and this button is made of two or more layers, so that its height can be reduced or increased at pleasure.

If a last is required for shoes extending above the ankle-joint, I attix to the top edge of the mold A an extension, E, made in two halves and fastened by means of hooks yi, and the separating-ga-ges extend up high enough to reach somewhat beyond the top edge ot' this elongation.

A scraper, F, serves to separate the two halves of the n.old from each other and from the impression.

The mold is placed on legs in a somewhat inclined position, and it' an impression is to be taken the toe-gage is adjusted on the foot and fastened thereto by a stocking of indiarubber or other elastic material, and introduced in the mold.

The plaster or other suitable material which serves for the operation is mixed to sirup oonsistency and poured in, and as soon as it has set the mold is opened, the foot removed, and after the impression has become perfectly hard, lead or other suitable material is poured in, and the last is ready to be fitted with the proper Wedge.

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The separating-gages B, iu combination with the mold A, constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The adjustable toe-gage D, applied in combination with the mold A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The extension-E, iu combination with the mold A and separating-gages B, constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose substautiall y as specified.

J. E. A. RILLO'I.

Witnesses:

J'. O. MINOR, E. M. CHAPMAN. 

